Principal's Column

As I write this, the University has just taken a bold step in launching Dundee University Press - a mark of the intellectual vitality of the University and of its innovative and responsive approach to a changing world. DUP will cross the boundaries of arts, science, biography and the professions picking up the best book proposals and authors from wherever they appear and taking the University name to new territories.

Another positive change since the academic year began is the result of the 2004 Spending Review which is expected to bring a growth in real terms of 17% in SHEFC spending over the next three years, taking the total allocation to Scottish universities over £1 billion for the first time by 2007/8. This will mean more money for much needed improvements to teaching infrastructure and is good news for the University's ambitious plans for campus development which are now taking shape.

More good news comes from student numbers where early indications are that entrants are considerably up (over 6%) on last year and the number of students joining us from overseas is rising significantly. Increases are greatest in taught postgraduate courses where numbers generally rose by 35% and those from overseas rose by 79%. Attractive new courses have been important here. Non-completion remains an issue and, as recruitment numbers improve, it reinforces the requirement to raise entry standards to ensure that we recruit the highest quality students on merit and potential.

The University's commitment to the recruitment of leading academics is as strong as ever with a number of new appointments in the pipeline for the coming months. We look forward to hearing presentations from 20 professors appointed over the last year, at January's Discovery Days when they will be showcasing their work across an intriguing range of topics including speech errors, architecture, estuaries and ear implants.

Research reviews within all faculties, led by David Boxer, are now in full swing and their results will inform the University's strategy for the 2007/8 RAE as well as resource allocation decisions over the next few years.

High quality research underpins the success of every part of the university and it is vital that we continue to ensure the calibre, energy and thrust of our research activities. The research reviews are an important 'calibration' exercise.

The review of teaching - the QAA's Enhancement Led Institutional Review -has successfully reached stage two with the panel returning for a three day period in mid November. The outcome will inform detailed work on the further development of the University's learning and teaching strategy, led by James Calderhead.

Finally I would like to add a few words on the launch of the University's first annual fund. This is likely to be an important way for the University in the future to raise revenue for important developments, improving the lives of new generations of students and engaging with earlier generations of alumni, involving them once more in the life of their University as it faces the challenges of the future.

Alan Langlands
November 2004